THERE is growing frustration and anger at the European Union over its coronavirus response, after Italy threatened to quit the bloc and Portugal lashed out at "repugnant" EU member-states.

The coronavirus pandemic has sparked an unprecedented crisis throughout the European Union, with a huge rift erupting between the 27 member-states. This week's failure to agree a joint EU economic response to the crisis has already set off a wave of furious criticism from leaders in Italy, Portugal and Spain. On Thursday, Germany, the Netherlands and other northern European countries rejected the plea of nine EU countries for so-called "corona-bonds" to soften the economic impact of the pandemic.